A professor evaluation is a way for students to evaluate their professor’s performance at the end of a semester or year in an anonymous and honest manner. For many colleges, professor evaluation is an important part of evaluating teaching, and it also helps professors learn where they need to improve. If you are asked to complete an evaluation for a university professor, you should take it seriously and answer honestly — the evaluations are confidential.
The same paper professor evaluation is used across the board in most colleges. This means that students will most likely be given the same questionnaire for multiple professors, which will make comparing the results easier. Students also know what to expect ahead of time and can plan ahead of time for their responses.
On professor evaluations, questions about how class time is spent, the amount of time spent on debate or discussion, the professor’s availability to students through office hours or time in class, the amount of homework assigned, and the time it takes to complete information on tests, papers, or other assignments are frequently asked. Questions about teaching style and material coverage may be included as well. The questions are designed to provide the professor and his or her superiors with a realistic picture of his or her teaching style, areas in which he excels, and areas in which he needs to improve.
There are numerous websites that encourage students to anonymously evaluate their professors and post class reviews, in addition to a professor evaluation that is completed at the end of the semester and sanctioned by the university. Some of the questions are similar, while others are geared toward assisting the student in having a “easy” semester with a suitable professor. Although some argue that these sites are often dominated by students who received a poor grade and are looking for revenge on a professor, the true anonymity of the web generally produces what might be considered more “honest” results. However, many professors visit these websites, and if enough students leave similar comments, it may persuade them to alter their teaching methods.
If you’ve had a particularly bad experience with a professor that seems out of the ordinary, it’s a good idea to speak with the professor directly about your experiences and how you could have done better as a student. This is not only a more mature approach than simply filling out a negative professor evaluation, but it also has the potential to save your relationship with the professor. Keep in mind that you may need to take another class with him or her at some point in the future.